The Bathtub Test

During his inspection of a psychiatric institution, one of the inspectors asked the manager: “By what criteria do you declare that one needs to be admitted here?”

“Well,” said the manager, “We fill a bathtub halfway with water and offer the patient a tea spoon, a glass and a bucket and ask him to drain it. Judging by how he chooses to carry out the assignment, we decide whether to admit him or not.”

“I understand,” responded the guest. “A normal person would use the bucket, since it is larger than the glass and spoon.”

“No,” the manager answered. “A normal person would have unplugged the drain. What would you prefer, sir, a room with or without the possibility of entertaining guests?